Avoid Eyestrain While Working at a Computer

Eye strain is a very common problem. Whether it is from working on a computer, watching TV, driving or any number of other activities, your eyes can become fatigued and lose focus. Serious eye strain can cause a number of other problems from short term head and neck aches to long term conditions like Myopia. With that in mind, here are few simple tips to help prevent eye strain. courtesy:ehow.com



> Position screen so light doesn't bounce off and create a glare. You can also put an antiglare shield on the screen.

> Don't forget to blink. Blinking keeps eyes moistened.

> Turn up the contrast to minimize strain on your eyes.

> Take frequent "eye breaks". Take a 20 second break every 20 minutes and just stare into the distance. Keep your eyes off the screen.

> Light your work area well. Use full spectrum bulbs. They duplicate natural sunlight and are easier on the eyes.

> Keep brightest lights over to the side if possible. Turn off overhead lighting. Close blinds so that sunlight doesn't glare on your screen.

> Position your monitor 18 to 30 inches from your eyes.

> Keep screen clean and properly focused.

> Rest your eyes by covering them with your palms. Keep them in complete darkness for a minute.

> Keep frequently used paper documents in a holder that attaches to the monitor. This keeps your eyes from having to move up and down.

> Adjust your glasses or contacts for the computer. Sometimes your prescription may not be suitable for computer work.

> Keep your keyboard positioned directly in front of monitor.

> Get up and move around at least every two hours. It gives your eyes a break, as well as the rest of your body.

Stay Away from Germs at the Office

Germs, viruses and bacteria live in all kinds of places in the office. They are so small, that you can't see them with the naked eye, but their effects can be felt for days or even weeks if you get really sick. There are precautions you can take to keep yourself healthy so that you can try to stay away from germs and viruses. Read on to see how you can further protect your health from germs at work.
courtesy:Ariana Cherry-Shearer, eHow.com



Few steps you can follow:

> Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer at your desk at all times. Use it on your hands when you come in contact with a sick person. Offer some your sanitizer to someone if they happen to sneeze or if they appear to be sick with a cold. This can possibly keep them from spreading germs elsewhere in your office area.

> Purchase a container of antibacterial wipes to keep at your desk. Clean your desk down at the end of every work day to clean away any germs or viruses that could have spread on your desk throughout the day. Also wipe your phone off after each use or if somebody else uses your phone.

> Off clients or customers another pen/pencil besides your own. Keep a separate jar of pens and pencils for clients to use. Store your personal writing utensils in your desk.

> Wash your hands with warm water and soap every time after using the restroom. Wash your hands for about the length of time it take to sing "Happy Birthday" at least three times.

> Cough and sneeze into your arm or sleeve. Coughing and sneezing on your hands will spread germs further throughout your body and onto other objects that you may touch. Wash your hands immediately or put hand sanitizer on them.

> Stay home if you are ill. If you are running a fever, see your doctor. Encourage other employees to stay home when they are ill or to at least see a doctor to be treated. Sometimes the doctor can offer antibiotics to help someone who is sick.

Get Your Heart Young Again

Are you tired of having to deal with old age syndrome, feeling worn down, when you have plenty of years ahead of you? Wouldn't you like to let loose and enjoy life for a change? Being young at heart will allow you to live a spontaneous, carefree and exciting life.
courtesy:breezewriter, eHow.com



Follow these four simple steps and you will be on your way to having a younger heart:

> The first step to getting your heart young again is to forgive. Forgiveness is crucial in releasing those who have offended you. Holding on to past hurts keep you chained to a mental prison that you share alone, while your offender goes on happily with their life. Without opening your heart to forgiveness, you actually cultivate the root of bitterness to grow into a weed that will one day choke out what little love left you have in your heart. We all know that love makes the world go round.

> The second step to getting your heart young again is to not waste time meditating on the past. Why cry over spilt milk? You cannot go back and change the past, but you can appreciate the lessons learned from it. As Paul of Damascus once said, "this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before." The future always holds great things in store for those who dare to believe. Learn to be hopeful and anticipate good things to come your way.

> The third step to getting your heart young again is to laugh and laugh often. A merry heart makes one glad. Laughter is one of the best medicines around to cheer you up. The true young at heart enjoy life and find the humor in things. I once read a story about a man with a disease, who was determined to cure himself by watching comedies everyday for three months, and he laughed himself healed.

> The fourth and final step to getting your heart young again is to give thanks. Adopt an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude keeps you from sweating the small stuff and you will not be burdened down with the heavy stuff. Being grateful keeps the channels from heaven open for blessing to flow to you. Be appreciative of life and all it has to offer while incorporating Thanksgiving Day as a part of your everyday life.

Worst Foods You Can Eat

Improve your diet by limiting your consumption of four of the worst foods you can eat.



Soft drinks: “[Soda pops contain] empty calories without any nutritional value,” says says Richard Béliveau, chair for cancer prevention and treatment at the University of Quebec in Montreal.

In his book, Eating Well, Living Well (McClelland & Stewart), Béliveau writes that Canadians drink 120 litres of soft drinks per year. With 30 g of sugar in each 350 mL bottle of Coke, we’re using a lot of unnecessary sweet stuff to wash down our meals.

But pop isn’t the only beverage that can sneak unnecessary calories into your diet. New research suggests that beverages such as alcohol and sweetened and unsweetened fruit drinks may account for a too-large proportion of our recommended daily calorie intake. In an 18-month study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, subjects consumed more than 350 of their daily calories from beverages—that’s about 20 percent of their total daily intake.

Diet products: If you rely on diet products to keep your weight in check, you may be doing your body more harm than good. “Research shows that eating these products stimulates the appetite and can lead to weight gain,” Béliveau writes in Eating Well, Living Well.

As well, diet products, such as fat-free salad dressing, can sabotage a healthy meal, making them some of the worst foods you can eat. "Sometimes people think fat-free salad dressings are great for them, but you need a bit of fat in your salad dressing to help you absorb the vitamin A in the salad that you're eating," says Zannat Reza, a registered dietitian based in Toronto. You also might be tempted to drench your veggies with a dressing labelled fat-free, which could add more calories and sodium to your meal.

Packaged cookies, cakes and chips: “Processed foods are dangerous for your health,” says Béliveau. That’s partly because many industrially produced products contain trans fats—fatty acids that are produced when manufacturers use a chemical process to turn liquid oil into solids.

This process, called partial hydrogenation, gives manufactured foods a longer shelf life, but it also makes them some of the worst foods you can eat. Trans fats raise your LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower your HDL (good cholesterol) levels and, according to Health Canada, is associated with a higher risk for heart disease.

Look at a product’s ingredient list before deciding to purchase it. Products that list hydrogenated oil, salt, sugar or high-fructose corn syrup as the first ingredients are all negative for your health, says Béliveau.

Fried foods: French fries, fried chicken and onion rings all have one negative thing in common: “[They have] high saturated-fat content,” says Béliveau. Saturated fats, also found in butter, lard and coconut oil, raise your LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and can increase your risk for heat disease and some cancers.

Fried foods may also contain high levels of trans fats, another reason why these greasy dishes are some of the worst foods you can eat.

Protect Against Cell Phone Radiation

Ever since I noticed that a paper clip would stick to my cell phone right where I hold it to my ear, I've been worried about what that might be doing to me. Cell phones also emit microwave radiation, just as portable phones do. Here's what you can do to protect yourself, short of getting rid of your phone altogether. courtesy:catmccabe, ehow.com



Few Ways:

> First, check the SAR rating on your phone, by going to the FCC's website. SAR stands for Specific Absorption Rate. That's how much heat your body is absorbing from the device. Understand that the number available from the FCC only measures the SAR when the phone is at your ear, not when it's on your body or in a pocket.

> Check the fine print that comes with your phone. Some cell phones are not designed to be carried or held less than an inch from your body! Your body includes your chest, your ear, and your thigh. Know what that means? The company isn't responsible if you get sick as a result of using their product. They warned you.

> Use the paper clip test when upgrading your phone. Does it stick near where you hold it close to your ear? Buy the phone that has the best shielding.

> Don't wear the phone on your body. Not in any pocket of your clothing. Not the breast pocket, or your front or back pocket. Not anywhere near your reproductive organs, male or female. Wear it in a holster you can clip to your belt or purse.

> Buy a Bluetooth earpiece, so the phone is never next to your ear. This is especially important for children, who reportedly are more susceptible to brain tumors than adults.

> Use your cell phone sparingly. Do you really need to chat when you're in line at the bank or the grocery store checkout? You survived just fine, driving home without dialing up. Try it once in a while. Go without, and stay healthy.

Heal a Broken Heart

Ever had someone twist your very heart from its cavern with only a couple of words, or worse just with an interminable silence? Ever had someone move on with their life as yours was left to flounder? There is a way to laugh and love again.



Few tried and tested ways:

> Try to understand why you are upset. Understand that everything happens for a reason. What exact moment made you feel upset?

>Don't think about whose fault it was - at one time or another, everyone makes mistakes. Don't worry about it.

>Do something quiet and relaxing to help you feel better. Maybe you want to take a hot bath, or meditate, or read a book. That's fine.

>In an hour, or two, or whenever you're ready, start thinking about whether you are ready to accept the other person's feelings.

>If you are, go ahead, call them, write them a note, or whatever you need to do. Maybe you want to talk face-to-face. They may not be willing to see you, or talk to you, but you should make an effort. Even if they turn you down, you feel better that you tried, and maybe they'll recognize that you made an effort.

>Understand what causes a broken heart in the first place. When we are in a mutual loving relationship we are constantly transferring our life energy (chi/ka/qi/prana) to our beloved automatically and more so when we think of them. This is based on the Huna principle: "Energy flows where attention goes". In a balanced relationship this transference of life energy is strong and has equal amounts of incoming and outgoing life energy. This helps both members feel secure and stable in a relationship even if it might be long distance. An unbalanced relationship causes this energetic flow to fall out of sync and results in an uneven distribution of incoming and outgoing life energy. This is why when we feel insecure, needy or clingy in a relationship even when there might not be a real reason behind it. The likely cause for this is because you stopped being your ex's main attention point in life and your ex didn't allow energy to flow back to you. Your ex might have had some other priorities (new job, changes in family, moving to a new city) and this lack of incoming energy is what causes one to become needy, anxious, unsettled and insecure in a relationship. But now that you have been told that you won't be able to continue your relationship with your beloved there is a conflict in mind and heart. You are still transferring life energy to your beloved automatically by thinking of them(you do love them after all!) but this is resulting in an inner conflict as you know you should stop. Your heart chakra is wide open and your mind now knows that you won't be getting any more incoming energy back from your beloved but your energetic body is still expecting it. This is why there is a great need to focus your energy on other aspects of life to balance your outgoing energy to something that will require your complete focus.

>What we miss when drawing away from a relationship is that we can't express our love anymore to someone. Ways to continue this form of heartfelt expression (and keep our wellbeing in balance on an energetic level) is to write poetry, paint, sing, dance, and do whatever it takes to allow you to transform your pain into something productive!

>Move on. When you feel you are ready to open your heart again, find someone else to be with

>Smile! Seriously, smiling makes you feel better and if you gather a few good, close friends and have a laugh together, you'll remember how good life was without him/her and that you're okay really.

>Remember the 2-year rule. It takes 2 years to learn a new job, to get accustomed to a new town and to completely heal a broken heart. If you follow these steps without remembering this first, you will be overly optimistic and disappointed. Real results are obtainable when realistic expectations are set.

>The moment he, she or it hammers the last drop of blood from your still loving/beating heart, stop arguing with that person or the fantasy voice of that person about how they are wrong and you are right. Everytime you catch yourself arguing your point in your own mind, just say stop and focus on something completely different.

>Replace the picture of your former dearest, with a picture of yourself. But keep the picture in the same place, just put a picture of you on top of it. Then every day when you walk by the picture, say I am sorry out loud to the picture. Yes you are apologizing to yourself for having gone that far around the bend for someone who didn't know your value and worth, and who doesn't matter anymore.

>Let time heal. It has been one month now. Go to someplace where you used to go or be near your so-called one-true love and go there with a friend (not alone, this is important). Mention 1 time and 1 time only how you used to drink at this very bar or your used to fend off Mr or Mrs. Wonderful's advances in that same back store room, mention it once only and then have a drink or file some papers, or do what ever you used to do, only now with a different person, preferably a comfortable friend who can smile knowingly then move the conversation forward.

>Practice being honest to yourself every day. In fact, be honest to everyone. Living in the truth of every moment will allow you to carve your way to a better relationship the next time around.

>Read a book every night before you go to sleep. You might never have read books, but nothing moves you outside of yourself better than a book, not a movie, not a music video, read a book. It will help you heal.

>If you feel ready, start dating other people again and not be a raving lunatic after about 2 months. Be careful about how you mention your ex to people you date, others can easily tell where your heart still truly lies and if just the mention of your ex's name makes your eyes well up, then you definitely need more time to heal before seeing other people. Jumping from one relationship to the next will not make you feel better in the long run as unresolved issues will appear in your new relationship.

>Speak to people. Speak to friends. They have all been through the same and will gladly help ease your burden of dealing with a broken heart.

>Come and read my blog, it may brings smile on your face :) Enjoy life! you don't get another.

Instantly Change Your Mood

Do you ever just wake up in the morning in a BAD mood?

Or maybe you stub your toe, spill your coffee, or burn your toast. Doesn't it seem that once one thing goes wrong, the whole day goes down hill?



The truth is that the reason the rest of the day goes wrong, is because of your bad mood. In other words, when you become angry about something that happens, you spend time focusing on it. And where attention goes, energy flows. This energy attracts other bad experiences. That's why it's so important to change your mood, ASAP!

Ways to Lift Your Mood:

> Breathe: nice and deep, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Take 10 long, deep breaths to get the oxygen flowing though your body and begin to relax your muscles. Sit cross-legged on the floor or lye down if possible. Continue breathing deeply.

> Listen to music: Now, I don't mean the sappy music that always makes you cry. I mean something upbeat and happy. Music that makes your toes tap.

> Laugh: Laughter really is the BEST medicine because the easiest way to turn that frown upside down is by laughing. Watch a sitcom, rent a movie. Just remember to laugh out loud.

> Find a happy thought: Just like Robin Williams (as the adult Peter Pan in the movie "Hook") needed to find his happy thought in order to fly, so do you. You can begin to rise above this bad mood if you will shift your focus from what's bothering you, to things and people that make you happy. Find a happy place, real or imagined, and picture it vividly in your mind -- the colors, the scents, everything about it. Focus on that for a minute or two while you continue to breathe deep.

> Have an attitude of gratitude: Begin with something simple and obvious, like "Thankfully, I don't have to live with my boss, I can leave him at the office and feel sorry for his wife!" or "Thank God I am in this room with the door locked for at least 5 minutes of peace!" Whatever works for you. The funnier you can make it, the faster it will lift your mood. Even things like, "It could be worse, I could be in jail in a foreign country," or "I could be living on the street, or sick and in the hospital with some terminal illness. This is really not that bad."

> Spend time with your pet: Is there anyone in your life that gives you more unconditional love than your pet? If you have a pet, you know the healing effect an animal can have on you.

> Call a friend: Now, you need to be careful with this one. You should have a good-time friend, someone that's fun and makes you feel good. This is the friend to call. You aren't calling to complain, you're calling to hear all of the wonderful and fun stories she has to share. Soon, you'll be looking up.

Remember, things could ALWAYS be worse. You could be uglier, shorter, or heavier than you are now, I am certain.

Start listing all of the good things you have to be thankful for, like being able to see and appreciate beauty, hear music and laughter, smell roses, taste good food, walk, run, dance, drive a car, talk to friends, look up good articles on the internet, etc., etc. Keep breathing deep and choosing to think of the positive instead of the negative.

In just moments, even though your circumstances may not change, your mood will. You will have succeeded in changing your thoughts, relaxing, and taking control of your mood. You will no longer allow that particular person or situation to ruin your day. You will have taken your power back, and with it, your good mood!

Crying Is Good for Health

Tears are just one of many miracles we taken them for granted every day. Here are few ways tears heal us physiologically, psychologically, and spiritually.



> Tears Help Us See: The most basic function of tears is that they enable us to see. Literally. Tears not only lubricate our eyeballs and eyelids, they also prevent dehydration of our various mucous membranes. No lubrication, no eyesight. Writes Jerry Bergman: “Without tears, life would be drastically different for humans—in the short run enormously uncomfortable, and in the long run eyesight would be blocked out altogether.”

> Tears Kill Bacteria: No need for Clorox wipes. We’ve got tears! Our own antibacterial and antiviral agent working for us, fighting off all the germs we pick up on community computers, shopping carts, public sinks, and all those places the nasty little guys make their homes and procreate.

Tears contain lysozyme, a fluid that the germ-a-phobe dreams about in her sleep, because it can kill 90 to 95 percent of all bacteria in just five to ten minutes! This translates, I’m guessing, to three months’ worth of colds and stomach viruses.

> Tears Remove Toxins: Biochemist William Frey, who has been researching tears for as long as I’ve been searching for sanity, found in one study that emotional tears—those formed in distress or grief—contained more toxic byproducts than tears of irritation (think onion peeling). Are tears toxic then?

No! They actually remove toxins from our body that build up courtesy of stress. They are like a natural therapy or massage session, but they cost a lot less!

> Crying Can Elevate Mood: Do you know what your manganese level is? Neither do I. But chances are that you will feel better if it’s lower because overexposure to manganese can cause bad stuff: anxiety, nervousness, irritability, fatigue, aggression, emotional disturbance, and the rest of the feelings that live inside my head rent-free.

The act of crying can actually lower a person’s manganese level. And just like with the toxins I mentioned in my last point, emotional tears contain 24 percent higher albumin protein concentration—responsible for transporting small (toxic) molecules--than irritation tears.

> Crying Lowers Stress: Tears really are like perspiration, in that exercising and crying both relieve stress. In his article, Bergman explains that tears remove some of the chemicals built up in the body from stress, like the endorphins leucine-enkaphalin and prolactin. The opposite is true too. Bergman writes, “Suppressing tears increases stress levels, and contributes to diseases aggravated by stress, such as high blood pressure, heart problems, and peptic ulcers.

> Tears Build Community: In her Science Digest article, writer Ashley Montagu argued that crying not only contributes to good health, but it also builds community. I know what you’re thinking: “Well, yeah, but not the right kind of community. I mean, I might ask the woman bawling her eyes out behind me in church what’s wrong or if I can help her, but I’m certainly not going to invite her to dinner.”

I beg to differ. As a prolific crier, I always come away astounded by the resounding support of people I know, and the level of intimacy exchanged among them. Read for yourselves some of the comments on both my self-esteem file video my death and dying video and you’ll appreciate my point. Tears help communication and foster community.

> Tears Release Feelings: Even if you haven’t just been through something traumatic or are severely depressed, the average Joe goes through his day accumulating little conflicts and resentments. Sometimes they gather inside the limbic system of the brain and in certain corners of the heart. Crying is cathartic. It lets the devils out before they wreak all kind of havoc with the nervous and cardiovascular systems. As John Bradshaw writes in his bestseller Home Coming, “All these feelings need to be felt. We need to stomp and storm; to sob and cry; to perspire and tremble.”
courtesy:care2.com

Get Clear, Smooth Skin

Ever struggled with rough, dry skin? Luckily, you found this page. This page will help you find a cure.



* Be healthy! Exercising regularly gives you a beautiful healthy glow, and can actually improve the condition of your skin. Drink lots of water, 8 cups a day, to help your skin to be healthy, and try to eat healthy, too. For example, don't eat loads of fatty, greasy foods like fries and burgers.

* Go to a chemist, supermarket, or beauty shop, and buy make-up removing wipes, cleansing lotion, toner, moisturizer, and facial scrub or antibacterial soap. Make sure you get them for your skin type, eg. sensitive skin, dry skin. As long as it is a reputable store, their own brand should be cheaper, but the same quality as expensive brands.

* Wash your face twice a day In the morning, splash your face with cold water for about 10 seconds. Then pat dry with a washcloth or facial sponge. This helps stimulate blood flow and is really good for the skin. Then get hot steamy water in a cup or bowl and place your face above the water. This will open up your pores. Then wash your face with a oil-free cleanser. Apply toner or lemon juice then moisturize. It is also good to moisturize before you go to bed.

* Take off your make up with the wipes every night before you go to sleep. Wash your face with warm water again, use toner, and moisturizer.

* Make an emergency zit kit including a zit cream that has salicylic acid and/or benzoyl peroxide, a cream that reduces redness, a concealer stick, and translucent powder (the powder should absorb excess oils on your face). Of course, this is completely optional, but very useful.

* Wait a few weeks; you should notice that your skin becomes smoother and clearer.

* Remember if all else fails, go see a dermatologist.

* Three words. Virgin Coconut Oil. Make sure your face is clean before you apply it on. Massage your face for 2-3 minutes. A little goes a long way. You only want to use one or two drops. What you don't want to happen is to make your face shiny. If you put too much on, gently remove the excess with a soft, clean towel.

The Health Benefits of Laughter

Research has shown that the health benefits of laughter are far-ranging. While more studies need to be done, studies so far have shown that laughter can help relieve pain, bring greater happiness, and even increase immunity. Positive psychology names the propensity for laughter and sense of humor as one of the 24 main signature strengths one can possess, and laughter yoga clubs are springing up across the country. Read on for more findings about the health benefits of laughter, and see how to incorporate more humor and fun into your life.courtesy:By Elizabeth Scott, M.S



Stress Management Benefits of Laughter:

Hormones: Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T cells. All this means a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.

Physical Release: Have you ever felt like you "have to laugh or I'll cry"? Have you experienced the cleansed feeling after a good laugh? Laughter provides a physical and emotional release.

Internal Workout: A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart.

Distraction: Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions in a more beneficial way than other mere distractions.
Perspective: Studies show that our response to stressful events can be altered by whether we view something as a 'threat' or a 'challenge'. Humor can give us a more lighthearted perspective and help us view events as 'challenges', thereby making them less threatening and more positive. (For more on changing your perspective, see this article on cognitive reframing.)

Social Benefits of Laughter: Laughter connects us with others. Just as with smiling and kindness, most people find that laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more, and realize these benefits as well. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can reduce their stress levels, and perhaps improve the quality of social interaction you experience with them, reducing your stress level even more!

How To Use Laughter:

Laughter is one of my all-time favorite stress management strategies because it's free, convenient, and beneficial in so many ways. You can get more laughter in your life with the following strategies:

T.V. and Movies: There's no shortage of laughter opportunities from the entertainment, both at the theater and in the aisles of the video stores, as well as at home with T.V. comedies. While wasting your time watching something marginally funny may actually frustrate you, watching truly hilarious movies and shows is an easy way to get laughter into your life whenever you need it.

Laugh With Friends: Going to a movie or comedy club with friends is a great way to get more laughter in your life. The contagious effects of laughter may mean you'll laugh more than you otherwise would have during the show, plus you'll have jokes to reference at later times. Having friends over for a party or game night is also a great setup for laughter and other good feelings. (See this article on laughing more for additional tips on getting more fun and laughter into your life.)

Find Humor In Your Life: Instead of complaining about life's frustrations, try to laugh about them. If something is so frustrating or depressing it's ridiculous, realize that you could 'look back on it and laugh.' Think of how it will sound as a story you could tell to your friends, and then see if you can laugh about it now. With this attitude, you may also find yourself being more lighthearted and silly, giving yourself and those around you more to laugh about. Approach life in a more mirthful way and you'll find you're less stressed about negative events, and you'll achieve the health benefits of laughter. (See this article on maintaining a sense of humor.)

"Fake It Until You Make It": Just as studies show the positive effects of smiling occur whether the smile is fake or real, faked laughter also provides the benefits mentioned above. The body can't distinguish between 'fake' laughter that you just start doing on purpose, and 'real' laughter that comes from true humor--the physical benefits are exactly the same, and the former usually leads to the latter anyway. So smile more, and fake laughter; you'll still achieve positive effects, and the fake merriment may lead to real smiles and laughter.

More on Having Fun: See these additional suggestions on laughing more and having fun in your life.

Popeye was right: spinach really does boost your muscles

Popeye's claim that "I am strong to the finish because I eat all my spinach" is scientifically correct, a study has found.
courtesy:http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Researchers have discovered that eating a bowl of spinach a day makes your muscles "profoundly" more efficient.



They found that eating 300g of the vegetable reduced the amount of oxygen needed to power muscles by as much as five per cent when exercising.

The effect is so powerful it works after just three days.

The secret is not iron but nitrates which are abundant in the vegetable.

These chemicals make the mitochondria – the "engine rooms" of every cell – more efficient, they found.

"It is like a fuel additive for your muscles – it makes them run much more smoothly and efficiently," said the lead author Dr Eddie Weitzberg of the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

Dr Wietzberg, who reported his findings in the journal Cell Metabolism, fed people pure nitrate supplements – the equivalent to the amount in a plate of spinach – every day for three days.

At the beginning and end of the experiment they were made to pedal strenuously on an exercise bike while their oxygen intake was measured via a tube to the mouth

It was found that the difference in energy in take was between three and five per cent – a significant figure.

Spinach is well known as the superfood that gave Popeye the Sailor Man his bulging muscles.

The famous cartoon character, who dates back to the 1930s, pops open a can of spinach whenever he needs to get out of trouble.

Originally it was thought that the iron content of spinach made it a power-food.

Now scientists have learned that nitrates are the true energy-boosting ingredient in the vegetable.

Green leafy vegetables of all kinds are rich in the chemical which until recently was not thought to have any nutritional value.

"We know that diets rich in fruits and vegetables can help prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but the active nutrients haven't been clear," said Dr Weitzberg.

"It is a profound and significant effect. It just shows that Popeye was right."

Previously Prof Weitzberg and colleague Professor Jon Lundberg showed that dietary nitrate increases levels of nitric oxide in the body with the help of friendly bacteria.

Nitric oxide is an important molecule which opens up blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, and improves circulation.

Mitochondria, like all engines, lose a lot of energy through heat loss.

The nitrate seems to stop this waste and make the cell – and so the muscle – run more efficiently.

Power Nap Helps at Work

Lacking rest? Its been a long week, between the hours you spend at home with the family, to the overtime that you have been putting in at work. You are tired, and drained, you just need a little power nap to get you through the day...so go ahead. Take your break. Close your office door, or go to your car. Throw your feet up on your desk, close your eyes, and nap. Its not a crime. It actually feels great.



Instructions:

> So you get your first little break of the day...eat your lunch a little earlier than the normal time to shave off some extra "nap time". Instead of hitting the lunch rush, take 15 minutes to yourself and have the bite to eat that you have been craving all morning since you missed breakfast!

> LUNCHTIME. Typical Americans get 30 minutes to 1 hour for lunch. USE IT TO NAP! You can do this right at your desk, on a park bench, in your car, or anywhere you can find a small bit of peace. I recommend doing this mid afternoon as a "pick-me-up". Just take 25 minutes, set an alarm on your cell phone or in your office. This is your time to relax. Close your eyes and clear your mind. It's better than running off for the extra cup of coffee, or that smoke break. Take the last 5 minutes to refresh yourself. Stretch, have a quick glass of water, pop in a mint...and enjoy the rest of your day. This will increase your productivity.

> Taking a nap during the lunch hour will decrease your urge for a nap when you get home. This is when we make dinner, help the kids with home work, chit chat with the spouse about how much we hate our jobs, etc. You will feel great and more energized!

Benifits:

> Less stress.
> Increased alertness and productivity.
> Improved memory and learning.
> Good for the heart.
> Increased cognitive functioning.
> Get motivated to exercise.
> Boost your creativity.
> Make up for midnight tossing and turning.
> Protects yourself from sleepiness.
> Better health.

How long is a good nap?

>THE NANO-NAP: 10 to 20 seconds. Sleep studies haven’t yet concluded whether there are benefits to these brief intervals, like when you nod off on someone’s shoulder on the train.

>THE MICRO-NAP: two to five minutes. Shown to be surprisingly effective at shedding sleepiness.

>THE MINI-NAP: five to 20 minutes. Increases alertness, stamina, motor learning, and motor performance.

>THE ORIGINAL POWER NAP: 20 minutes. Includes the benefits of the micro and the mini, but additionally improves muscle memory and clears the brain of useless built-up information, which helps with long-term memory (remembering facts, events, and names).

>THE LAZY MAN’S NAP: 50 to 90 minutes. Includes slow-wave plus REM sleep; good for improving perceptual processing; also when the system is flooded with human growth hormone, great for repairing bones and muscles.

Contrary to popular opinion, napping isn’t for the lazy or depressed. Famous nappers have included Bill Clinton, Lance Armstrong, Leonardo da Vinci and Thomas Edison. The moral of the story: to be ultra-productive, just rest your head. You snooze, you gain. Give it a try for yourself and see if you aren’t amazed at the results!
courtesy:ehow.com,ririanproject.com

Healthy Eating Tips From The Most Healthy Countries In The World

Did you know that some countries have a healthy eating habit? According to Michel Montignac in his book The French Diet: The Secrets of Why French Women Do not Get Fat, and also research if the food is often consumed by the nations of Asia and the Mediterranean has a lot of proactive nutrition needed by the body. For that reason, it is a if we heed 5 healthy eating tips from the most healthy countries in the world. courtesy:healthycookingtrend.com



> Eat a lot of grain, vegetables and fruits.
(Conducted in the countries: China and Greece)

In some countries, meat only as complement in main dishes. According to the research, the portion of three or more grain and vegetables and fruit each day can reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease and some types of cancer. The traditional Chinese food, for example, consists only of vegetables, fruit and grain. “As with the Greek community who assume that the vegetables and legumes (like beans) as the main food, not a complement.

> Enjoy your meal
(Conducted in the country: Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Japan)

There is a relation between eating in a quiet condition and health. When eating with a calm and happy, the body will be able to process food quickly. “Ritual” food in these countries can be held for long hours. Even in Greece they “eat slowly, in the every minutes, regularly and done on the comfortable place / location. Furthermore, food can strengthen relationships. The French, Italian and Spanish, the food is a time to gather with family and friends.

> Watch your portions
(Conducted in the country: France, Japan)

The average French eats 25% less than the American, that’s the result of research conducted by the University of Pennsylvania. In Japan more regularly again, the food is presented in the usual small size and eat from small bowls, not on the wide plate. Okinawa people have habits called a “burly hachi bu,” or “8 out of 10.” This mean, people of Okinawa will stop eating when they feel their stomach is fully 80% before fully satisfied.

> Konsumsilah variety of fresh food
(Conducted in the country: Italy, France, Greece, Japan, and Indonesia.)

Each foreign tourist who visits the traditional market or supermarket in Indonesia will feel amazed to see the many choices of fresh food produce Indonesia. That’s why Indonesia had 3.5 century colonized by some country in Europe just because they tempted by Indonesian food that plenty of spices. Research proves that fresh food contains a lot of fiber, less calories, good cholesterol, and low salt and sugar. That is why this year’s start a global trend called the Raw Food Revolution in the developed countries.

> Spice up your plate
(Conducted in the country: India, China, Thailand, Indonesia)

Spices in a dish can make it to be more delicious cuisine. The fact that many people should know is, spices are also low calorie and fat free. Several types of spices such as garlic, thyme, Rosemary, cinnamon, cloves and turmeric also have the property to fight diseases and reduce bad cholesterol level in the body.

The Best Things in Life aren't Things

Money. It's something we all need. Whether you work for it, inherited it, saved for it, married into it, won the lottery, or some combination thereof, when you start to inch toward midlife, just make sure you have a plan so there's some left over for you to live on... and enjoy.



Financial issues can be complicated, frustrating and emotionally charged, but dealing with these things now will ensure that we're not scrambling in the future. These days we're facing global economic circumstances that aren't terribly reassuring, as well as more personal financial concerns: aging parents, college expenses for those of us who still have kids in school, and the precariousness of our own careers as we get older.
courtesy:Barbara Hannah Grufferman

Here's a "The Best Things In Life Are Free" Starter List:

> Love: the love you give and the love you get.

> Your Faith: whatever it is, it is yours to follow.

> Your Conscience: During the reign of King Henry VIII, Sir Thomas More followed his conscience: to his death: and stood behind what he believed was right. Only you can look yourself in the mirror every night at the end of every day and tell yourself that you truly did the right thing, according to your own conscience, and you didn't let anyone persuade you otherwise.

> Your Thoughts: whether you choose to share them, or keep them to yourself.

> Happiness: In most cases, we can choose to live our lives in a state of happiness with moments of unhappiness (it's the rare person who can be happy 24/7), or we can choose to be unhappy with moments of happiness.

> Laughter: Laugh every day, because no matter what's going on in the world or in your life, you can find a little humor in just about everything.

> Compassion: Be tender of heart, and the world will be a better place.

> Reading: Go to a library and check out a book or magazine, or borrow from a friend.

> Walking: I started a walking program a few years ago, and eventually added running into the mix. You can do this anytime, anywhere. The only cost is a pair of running or walking shoes. You'll be exercising your body, and your mind.

> Push-ups and Sit-ups: These are two of the most basic, and yet effective, exercises you can do (20 of each every day), and they are absolutely free.

> Singing: Even when my two teenaged daughters roll their eyes at me, I sing pretty much whenever I feel like it, which is quite often.

> Central Park: It's one of my personal "Great Wonders of the World" but there are community parks everywhere for us to enjoy.

> Eating Healthy Foods: True, it's not free, but choosing to eat healthy foods costs no more than eating unhealthy foods.

> Sex: Engaging in a loving, intimate relationship with your partner is one of the most beautiful expressions of love I can imagine.

> Attitude: My article last week was about feeling invisible: "Feeling Invisible? HuffPost Readers Speak Out": but even that is a choice. Choose living your life with a good, positive attitude, and without fear.

There are free concerts, lectures, tastings (wine and food), and so many other wonderful ways to enjoy life . . . at no cost, and in my ongoing effort to "spend less and save more," I'm always on the lookout for great ideas.

What is your "The Best Things in Life Are Free?" list?

How Yoga Can Change Your Life Forever

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured. ”

While it's true that you'll get out of your practice only as much as you're willing or able to put into it, a committed approach to your practice can help you in ways that you've never expected. Indeed practicing yoga could be the platform and motivation you need to completely transform your life.


courtesy:ezinearticles.com

The basic benefits of yoga are widely documented and have been extensively researched. Research into the more controversial benefits of yoga continue - at the time of writing, pubmed.org (a Service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of health) listed more than 900 research papers investigating the benefits of yoga. A search on the internet typically reveals benefits which include:

> Increased fitness
> Increased strength
> Fat reduction and weight loss
> Relief of back pain
> Better relaxation

Individually these benefits sound like compelling reasons to practice yoga and may be exactly what you are looking for. But yoga is an all encompassing approach to health and well-being - the word itself literally means union, and when we look at the impact practicing yoga can have on our lives, we should also take an all encompassing approach. While yoga alone cannot work miracles, it may be the foundation, along with some self belief, to help you:-

Earn more money: Practicing yoga increases your ability to relax and cope with your daily stresses. It also helps to develop a meditative ability allowing you to slow or clear your mind of constantly racing thoughts. After a hard days work, these are exactly the techniques you need so you can unwind, and recharge through longer and deeper sleep. If you can achieve that then you'll feel more refreshed, energised and motivated each day, improving your focus and concentration. You can channel this in what ever direction you want including working towards a promotion, searching for your ideal job or starting your own business.

Write a book, learn to dance: As outlined above, regular yoga practice can help you increase your energy, motivation and focus as well as improving your concentration - all of which can be used to develop your personal hobbies and interests, whatever they may be, mental activities or physical ones.

Spend more time with your friends and family: Promotion and money aren't your motivators? How about using your increased energy levels to bring greater balance between your work and personal lives, allowing you to spend more time with the people that matter.

A shot of self confidence: performing regular exercise, combined with the positive effects yoga has on metabolism and appetite, can help with weight (fat) loss. Combine that slimming with the toning effect yoga has on your muscles and you can start to develop the body you want in no time - and be feeling better about yourself just as quick. What better boost is there to your self confidence?

Depression relief: Yoga postures are designed to stretch, compress and massage your internal organs and glands. This stimulation is thought to help balance hormone levels in the body, which can help to achieve a more balanced emotional state.

Quit smoking: As well as strengthening your resolve to quit through the increased motivation, energy and focus, yoga breathing techniques (pranayama) are ideal to help you pass the cravings that at the biggest hurdle to quitting smoking.

As you can see, the benefits of yoga go far beyond simply improving your wellbeing - the benefits can be channeled to help you to make fundamental improvements to your whole life. When the rewards are so great, it's not difficult to understand why people become so enthusiastic about yoga.

Best Way to Breathe, for Better Health

If you are reading this, you already know how to breathe. But have you stopped to think about the best way to breathe? Learned breathing techniques, such as deep breathing, have been part of yoga and other practices for centuries. Breathing correctly is very important - not only to help you perform strenuous tasks, but to allow the lungs to fill up with air, aid in controlling the heart rate, and living . The benefits of proper breathing can assure you will not get pneumonia when you have a bad cough, by clearing the air passages to the lungs. Proper deep breathing also can assist you in relaxing before doing things that cause you to feel stress and nervousness. Here are instructions for a breathing exercise to help you improve your breathing.
courtesy:wikihow.com



Complete Breath Process:

>Suck in your stomach, drawing your belly button towards your spine.
>Exhale.
>Now expand your belly button outward, drawing in breath.
>Then allow your ribs to open out.
>Finally, draw back your shoulders and clavicles.
>To exhale, first allow out the air at the top of your chest.
>Next, draw in the rib cage.
>Finally, draw the belly button back towards the spine.
>Repeat for a few minutes each day to retrain yourself to normal full breathing.

Few Advantages:

> Proper breathing benefits the respiratory system by reducing tight chest muscles thus relieving chest pains and anxiety. It also aids in relieving long term respiratory difficulties like bronchitis and asthma by opening up the chest to make breathing easier.

> The circulatory system benefits from improved blood circulation and congestion relief. There is also an increase in oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells enabling the organs to function better.

> Proper breathing can enable the nervous system to calm down or become stimulated.

> When utilizing the diaphragm when breathing, the action acts as a massage to the internal organs of the digestive system.

> Diaphragmatic breathing aids the endocrine system by helping it move lymph throughout the body, which eliminates waste and strengthens the immune system.

> Proper breathing benefits the urinary system by allowing fluids to be eliminated through the breath, and therefore reducing edema. It also relieves stress put on the elimination organs due to improper breathing.

> Proper breathing also aids in relaxation, relieves muscular tension, increases flexibility and joint strength, and helps to recover faster from stress and exertion.

Read People's Minds

Some scientists will say that it is impossible to read minds. They will also tell you that you can read body language, or use empathy, or that you even have neurons that help you make educated guesses on what a person might be thinking or feeling. Perhaps there really is nothing mystical about the power to read minds. Perhaps it is simply human intuition based on observation and educated guesses after all, but that doesn't make it any less useful an ability to learn. courtesy:ehow.com



Following are some of the ways you can try:

> Learn body language. How a person moves, holds their hands, even what their eyes are doing are very telling about what is going on inside of their head. For example, pupils tend to grow larger when you are interested in or excited about something. If you are talking to someone and making eye contact, finding their pupils are large and round, chances are they are not feigning interest in the conversations. Someone who is fidgety or biting their nails is likely nervous. Someone who folds their arms across their chest when they are not cold is probably trying to put a barrier between you and themselves, or if they draw themselves inward, with their shoulders hunched, there is probably something they don't want you to know. There are many variables. Large pupils can also mean they've recently had their eyes dilated, and fidgeting could be the result of the recent consumption of a large caffeinated beverage.

> Learn to mentally put yourself in another's place. Scientists have recently discovered that your brain has neurons that fire when you watch someone do something the same as if we had done the action ourselves. They have dubbed these “mirror neurons, and they explain our ability to have empathy. When you are able to open yourself to understanding how other people are feeling, you are able to figure out reasons and anticipate future actions, reactions, even thoughts.

> Know that if you do believe that there is some kind of undiscovered energy that allows for a psychic connection between people, you can try to tap into this energy and use extrasensory perception to read someone's mind. This doesn't mean you'll literally be able to read their mind like a book, or that you will hear their thoughts like a radio broadcast. Instead, you will receive inexplicable impressions, feelings, perhaps even images or words will pop into your head.

> Take up meditation. Meditation helps to discipline the mind so that you can alter your state of consciousness at will. Psychics are most receptive to impressions when they are able to slip into the Alpha state, a state of relaxed awareness, somewhere between sleeping and full alertness. If you have ever found yourself zoning out; in front of the television, or while riding in a car or doing a monotonous chore, you have experienced the alpha state. Learning to meditate can help you purposely put your brain in the alpha state, where you will be more successful in reading people and receiving impressions.

> Practice and combine all of these steps. You will soon find yourself able to intuit the things going through another person's mind, even if it is contrary to what they are actually saying. Whether it is a paranormal ability, or plain old observation and deduction, it certainly is a skill worth learning.

Keep Your Home Pollution Free

When it comes to your home, you want things clean, healthy and safe for your family. Who doesn’t, right?

But you might be surprised to learn that according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American home is hundreds of times more polluted inside than the air is outside.



Why is this the case? Well, one common reason is because most people don’t open their windows enough. They don’t want to let in the “dirty air” from outside. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Homes need to breathe and have fresh, circulating air. Otherwise, dust and pollutants build up and stay trapped inside.

Women and children are especially vulnerable to harmful indoor air pollution, since they’re the ones who spend the most time inside the home.

So, what causes all this pollution in our homes? Well, there are several things.

•Cleaning products
•Carpeting
•Pressed wood furniture and cabinets
•Mold
•Tobacco products
•Burning coal, kerosene, wood, or oil
•Insulation containing asbestos
•Harsh products used for hobbies
•Many personal care products (like hair spray and deodorants)
•Air fresheners
•Pesticides
•Paint and other solvents

Harmful Effects of Indoor Air Pollution

The EPA has linked harmful indoor air pollution to several health issues.

Immediate Effects can include symptoms like fatigue, dry eyes, asthma, headaches, dizziness, eye, nose, and throat irritation.

Long-term Effects can include permanent respiratory damage, heart disease, reproductive problems, neurological disorders, or even cancer.

How To Keep Your Home Pollution Free

Open Your Windows: One of the best ways to keep your home healthy is to open your windows. The more outside air you can get into your home, the better. In the summertime, ditch your air conditioning and keep the windows open. In the winter, make a point to open the windows for at least a few minutes every day. And if you’re doing something like painting, sanding, paint stripping, or soldering it’s vital you have fresh, circulating air in your home.

Buy Plants: Plants naturally cleanse the air, so the more plants you have in your home the more “filtration” systems you have! NASA recently finished a 2-year study which proved that many common houseplants help remove dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air. Pick up some Bamboo Palm, Chinese Evergreen, English Ivy, Sansevieria (Mother In Law Tongue), Gerbera Daisies, Pop Mums, or Peace Lily if you’d like cleaner air.

Use Natural Cleansers: Did you know the FDA doesn’t regulate what companies put in common household cleansers? And did you know that women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate than women who work outside the home, according to the Toronto Air Conference? The statistics regarding the hazardous nature of most commercial cleaning products are truly alarming, and these cleaners are a major contributor to indoor air pollution. One of the best things you can do for you and your family’s health is to start using natural cleaning products. Baking soda, vinegar, and lemons can work wonders. And, companies like Seventh Generation make all-natural cleaning solutions that don’t contribute to indoor air pollution.

Stop Using Pesticides: The EPA estimates that over 75% of American homes use at least one pesticide. But, pesticides have been linked to everything from dizziness and shortness of breath to damage to the liver and central nervous system. There are plenty of natural, safe ways to get rid of household pests without using these dangerous chemicals! And it’s important not to use pesticides in your yard either; children and pets easily track the pesticide residue indoors.

Use Low/ No VOC Paint: Every time you paint a room, you get that “paint smell”, right? Well, the paint smell is actually the off gassing of several harmful chemicals. Next time you have to paint a room in your home, spend extra for the low or no VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint that eliminates this off gassing.

Stop Smoking: If you or another family member smokes inside the home, stop. Tobacco is full of harmful chemicals, and even the second-hand smoke causes cancer. Plus, the tar from smoke will linger for years on walls and furniture.

Get A Radon Detector: WebMD says that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States (after smoking). Radon naturally occurs in the soil, but it can leak into your home through cracks in your foundation. Getting a radon detector will help you identify if you have a leak so that you can immediately get it fixed.

Carpeting: Carpeting is full of dangerous chemicals like styrene, formaldehyde, and benzene. These are known carcinogens. And, your family will be breathing these fumes in for months after new carpeting is installed. Plus, carpeting naturally traps dirt and pollutants, which are hard to get out. Instead, go with cork or bamboo flooring, which is much healthier (and more sustainable) for your family. If you really want carpeting in your home, there are some eco-friendly brands that don’t use hazardous chemicals or glues, so there is is no off gassing.

Don’t Dry Clean: Dry cleaned clothes have several dangerous chemicals on the fabric. And when you bring these clothes home, those chemicals come too. Besides, do you really want to wear chemically-treated clothing next to your skin? Probably not. You can gently hand wash dry-clean only clothes with Woolite and hang dry. This is not only safer, but cheaper.

Clean Out the Garage: You know that “garage smell”, which is usually a combination of lawn mower gas, old paint, oil, paint stripper, and who know what else? Well, that smell is really, really dangerous for your health. All these chemical fumes can cause major damage to your body, and having them sitting around your garage is not good. Responsibly dispose of these chemicals at your county’s next Hazardous Waste Drop off. Until then, keep the garage door and any windows open as much as possible to keep the space ventilated.

So, Most of us spend 90% of our time indoors. Which is why it’s so important that the air we breathe is healthy. It’s easy to create a green and healthy home, and all it takes is a little awareness and a change of habit. And most of us would agree that our health, and our family’s health, is more than worth the effort.

Health Advantages of Coconut Water

Coconut water is considered the most natural beverage--after water of course. For centuries, people around the world have revered coconut water for its health benefits, convenience and taste. In the United States and the rest of the western world, the "miracle drink" has been steadily gaining popularity for its flavor, hydration properties and nutritional value.



Identification: Is there a difference between coconut milk and coconut water? Yes, a big one. Coconut water is a thin clear liquid found at the center of the nut before maturation, while coconut "milk" is made from the liquid extracted from the actual flesh of the coconut. The milk is much thicker and richer, and maintains a very high fat content. The water of a young green coconut is sweet and light. As the nut ages, the nutrients in the water are absorbed by the flesh, leaving the water bitter and lackluster. Therefore, to reap the natural health and flavor benefits of coconut water, the coconut must be harvested while it is still green.

Natural Sports Drink: The most "trendy" benefit of coconut water, as seen in the marketing of commercial products such as Zico and Vita Coco, is re-hydration. Coconut water has been dubbed "the natural Gatorade" for its high levels of electrolytes and minerals. People sweat out these minerals during physical activity, so re-hydrating is essential when exercising. The replenishing of electrolytes is the concept behind commercial sports drinks, therefore many believe that coconut water should be marketed as "the natural sports drink." In 2007, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was granted a patent to bottle and sell coconut water as a sports drink.

Alleviation of Ailments: Aside from crucial electrolytes, coconut water contains calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamins, sugars and proteins. For centuries, it has helped hydrate, cool body temperature and maintain immune system balance. Due to the saline and albumen content, it is used to ease symptoms of cholera, urinary tract diseases, kidney stones and dysentery. According to the Coconut Development Board, it helps promote weight loss, relieves rashes when applied externally, can be used as an antiseptic or as an emergency substitute during a blood transfusion and may aide the body's immune system when fighting AIDS, cancer and diabetes. Coconut water has also proven beneficial for alleviating nausea, as it naturally settles the stomach. Therefore, it's also an ideal hangover cure in lieu of the raw egg and milk.

Warning: There are many myths about the benefits of coconut water, such as one that says drinking enough coconut water will cause a mother to start producing milk again to feed another person's baby. This has not been proven, and it has no biological foundation. While there are many nutritional benefits to coconut water, it is not a medicinal cure. Coconut water aides healing and alleviation of many ailments, though it is not a cure for any severe disease.

Benefits: Coconut water is all-natural, and aside from its benefits, no harm can come from its consumption. The long-term and short-term benefits of nature's "miracle water" offer sufficient reason for its regular consumption. In the United States, there are many brands of commercially bottled coconut water available to the consumer. However, if you truly desires the health benefits of coconut water, along with the taste and enjoyment benefits, then get on a plane, head to the beach, order a coconut freshly hacked open in front of your eyes, and sip slowly through a straw.